Shiga toxin binding in normal and inflamed human intestinal mucosa

Shiga toxins are associated with haemolytic uraemic syndrome but human intestinal epithelium does not express the Gb3 receptor. We describe Gb3 expression and Shiga toxin binding in histologically normal intestine and demonstrate that the pattern is unaltered in inflammatory disease states. Gb3 expression and Shiga toxin binding were identified in Paneth cells in both normal and inflamed mucosae.